Bruising left-winger John Ferguson earned quite a reputation in an NHL career that spanned just eight seasons. From the moment he suited up for the Montreal Canadiens Ferguson vowed to be "the meanest, rottenest, most miserable cuss ever to play in the NHL." The Canadiens had recruited the fierce forward because they felt the team lacked toughness, and John Ferguson delivered in spades.

Though he played a solid physical game and was more then willing to drop his gloves and engage in the pugilistic side of the game, there was a lot more to Ferguson then just brawn. He scored 15 or more goals in four of his first five seasons then turned many heads by firing home 29 goals during the 1968-69 season.
His personal success was over-shadowed by the team's success. Before Ferguson had been brough a board the three years had passed since the Canadiens ended their five-in-a-row Stanley Cup run that closed out the 1950's without the team winning again. With Ferguson providing the missing ingredient of toughness the team returned to glory and captured five Cups during his eight year career with them, including on in 1971, when he played his last game.

When Ferguson retired he stayed involved with the game and added another impressive accomplishment to his list when he accepted the post of assistant coach with Team Canada for the 1972 Summit Series. Ferguson aided Harry Sinden behind the bench for what many regard as the greatest hockey series ever. From there he moved to the New York Rangers front office and served as the team's General Manager for two years. He then took the same job with the World Hockey Assocation's Winnipeg Jets and helped guide them to an Avco Cup Championship. When the Jets joined the NHL in 1979, Ferguson stayed on and served as the team's GM for the next ten years. Since leaving the Jets Ferguson has been a part of the Ottawa Senators front office and served as a scout for the San Jose Sharks as well.

REGULAR SEASON

PLAYOFFS

Season

Club

League

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

+/-

GP

G

A

TP

PIM

1956-57

Melville Millionaires

SJHL

51

11

17

28

49

1957-58

Melville Millionaires

SJHL

50

14

30

44

100

1958-59

Melville Millionaires

SJHL

44

32

34

66

83

1959-60

Fort Wayne Komets

IHL

68

32

33

65

126

13

1

1

2

17

1960-61

Cleveland Barons

AHL

62

13

21

34

126

1961-62

Cleveland Barons

AHL

70

20

21

41

146

6

2

2

4

6

1962-63

Cleveland Barons

AHL

72

38

40

78

179

7

3

3

6

17

1963-64

Montreal Canadiens

NHL

59

18

27

45

125

7

0

1

1

25

1964-65

Montreal Canadiens

NHL

69

17

27

44

156

13

3

1

4

28

1965-66

Montreal Canadiens

NHL

65

11

14

25

153

10

2

0

2

44

1966-67

Montreal Canadiens

NHL

67

20

22

42

177

10

4

2

6

22

1967-68

Montreal Canadiens

NHL

61

15

18

33

117

+18

13

3

5

8

25

1968-69

Montreal Canadiens

NHL

71

29

23

52

185

+30

14

4

3

7

80

1969-70

Montreal Canadiens

NHL

48

19

13

32

139

+11

1970-71

Montreal Canadiens

NHL

60

16

14

30

162

+2

18

4

6

10

36

NHL Totals

500

145

158

303

1214

85

20

18

38

260

AHL First All-Star Team (1963)
Played in NHL All-Star Game (1965, 1967)